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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. I

J. EMMNER, Jr. ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

No. 465,844. Patented Dec. 29, 18 91.

on, Txzue 2-2 I; b 4 wfk U (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. EMMNER, Jr.ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

No. 465,844. Patented Dec. 29, 1891.

Rs 00., mum-mum, WA-5KINGTON o c UNITED STATES PATENT Crricn.

JULIUS EMMNER, JR, OF WASHIhICrTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR, BYDIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PHILIP T. DODGE, TRUSTEE,

OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,844, dated December29, 1891. Application filed October 30, 1890. Serial No. 369,855. (Nomodel.)

T at whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JULIUS EMMNER, Jr, of Vashington, in the District ofColumbia, have invented certain Improvements in Electric Railways, ofwhich the following is a specifica tion.

My invention has reference to that class of cars in which a motorlocated on the car receives its actuating-current through a travelingcontact device, which is extended downward through a slot or openinginto contact witha stationary conductor located in a tunnel or conduitbeneath the surface of the ground.

The objects of the invention are to simplify the construction of theparts, insure a constant and perfect contact, and to prevent the leakageor short-circuiting of the current.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectionthrough a railway constructed on my plan, with the car thereon. Fig. 2is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa cross-section of the stationary conductor on an enlarged scale.

2 5 Fig. at is a cross-section on the line 4 4, Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig.5 is a cross-section 011 the line-5 5.

Referring to the drawings,A-represents the w track-rails on which thecar 13 is arranged to travel in the ordinary manner.

C C are two electric motors mounted on the car and adapted to impartmotion to its wheels. Th'ese motors, which form no part of my invention,may be constructed and applied to 3 5 the car in any ordinary andsuitable manner, various motors and methods of application suitable forthis purpose being known in the present day to every person skilled inthe art.

D represents a flexible conductor attached an at one end to the car andconnected with the motors and attached at its opposite or lower end tothe contact device or conductor E, which is extended downward through aslot or openingf into the interior of the tunnel or conduit F, its lowerend being forked and pro vided with a conducting rolleror trolley e,which rides constantly upon the upper edge of the stationaryconducting-rail G, which is in communication with the dynamo or other 5csource of electric supply, so that the current passes from the rail Gthrough the roller 6,

arm E, and conductor D to the 1notor.. The circuit may be completed fromthe motor through an overhead conductor to the trackrails, or otherwise,in accordance with either of the modes now practiced in the art. Thetunnel or conduit F is preferably constructed of cylindrical form and ofmetal and supported by metallic frames H, embedded in the ground andadapted to give support to the track-rails; but the details of theseparts are not of the essence of my invention. The contact-arm E issurrounded and protected from wear against the sides of the slot by ashield I, of steel or equivalent material, insulated from the conductorproper by an intermediate layer of gutta-percha or equivalentnon-conducting material 1', as shown in Fig. 4.. In order, however, thatthe conducting device may be advanced smoothly and easily with the car,it is sustained by a cross-bar J, having at its ends grooved or flangedrollers j, which travel on supporting ribs or tracks j, formed in thetop of the tunnel. I prefer to construct the tunnel, as shown in Figs. 1and 2, with two horizontal plates f and f on each side of the slot, asufficient space being left between these plates for the passage of therollers, which are thus protected against displace ment. It will beobserved that the conductorarm is thus supported within the tunnel bythe rollers on theends of the cross-bar, and as a result it is free torock or tip on a horizontal transverse axis passing through the arm. Theconducting-arm is extended downward and rearward beyond its support ortrack, so that it acts with a trailing effect upon the rail G, withwhich it is held in contact by gravity. In order to relieve theconductorD from strain and to admit of the contact device riding freely,I extend a chain K or equivalent flexible connection from the car to thecontact device in order to pull the latter for ward.

The main conducting-rail G is made of triangular or similar form incross-section with one edge foremost in position for the roller to ridethereon. It is inclosed, except at the upper edge, by a body ofnon-conducting material g -such, for example, as gutta-percha orequivalent compounds now known in the art. It is supported at suitableintervals by clamps 9 which are supported in the frame II, and drawntogether by bolts g so as to embrace the rail and its covering tightlybetween them. Inasmuch as the rail is completely covered 5 andprotected, except at the upper edge, it exposes but a smallconducting-surface, and hence atmospheric leakage is reduced to aminimum. Owing to its form, the water and solid matters which may fallthrough the slot into the tunnel are prevented from lodging andremaining on the surface. I- prefer to construct the contact-roller ofsuch form that it will bear at the lower or outer edges of its grooveagainst the opposite sides of the rail.

Thus constructed it has a pinching action.

upon the rail, so that a perfect contact is insured.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an electricrailway, the combination of a tunnel or conduit having a longitudinalopening, an external car, a contact-arm con nected to the car andextending into the tunnel to contact with the conductor, and a wheeledsupport for said contact device, said support constructed to admit of atipping movement of the arm on a horizontal axis.

2. In an electric railway, the combination of a tunnel or conduit havinga longitudinal opening, an external car, a contact-arm flexiblyconnected to the car and extending into the tunnel to contact with theconductor, op-

positely-extending horizontal arms attached to the contact-arm, rollersmounted on the outer ends of the arms, and a track or way for saidrollers, whereby the contact-arm is permitted to tip on a horizontalaxis.

3. In an electric railway, the tunnel having a longitudinal opening, aninternal central conductor and tracks or bearings extending on bothsides of the conductor, in combination with the central contact-armextending into the tunnel, and its wheeled support arranged to travelupon the tracks of the tunnel, substantially as described.

4. In an electric railway, the tunnel constructed with the longitudinalopening and the plates f f, having between them aspace for the passageof the truck or support for the contact device.

5. In an electric railway, and in combination with an external car, atunnel having a 10ngitudinal slot or opening, a longitudinal conductorin said tunnel, a contact-arm connected to the car and mounted to rockon ahorizontal axis, and a draft device connected to the car and to thecontact-arm above its axis.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this'28th .day of October,1890, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

g JULIUS EHMNER, JR.

Witnesses:

W. R. KENNEDY, FABIUs STANLY ELMORE.

